The Empty Chair

This empty chair and my new flip flops are calling my name.


...Florida here we come!

My Ornament is Finished

I finished my ornament for Terri's Ornament Swap in July. I made it from cotton fabrics, wool felt and beads. It's all hand stitched. I made the owl from Robyn's instructions when she had the Otte Owl Challenge. They are fun to make and can look so different each time you make one.

Just a Hint

Now, I'm on to my next project. I haven't started my ornament for Terri's Ornament Swap yet, but that's my project for this weekend. I do have all my colors and fabrics picked out. I hope there's some good TV on tonight!

Raffle Quilt Winners

Dustin Plunkett, from Southern California, drew the three winning tickets. Dustin has been an International Global Messenger with the Special Olympics for the last two years. He has also been a Global Messenger for twelve years and competed as an athlete for 14 years. His sports were basketball, softball, soccer, golf, tennis, and bocce.


Ron Vedranz from Connecticut and Paige Vedranz were the first winners to pick up their quilt. Paige's sport is swimming. She has won a gold and 4th place in swimming with two more events to go on Friday.


Marlys Lang, a Track and Field coach from Minnesota, was the second winner to pick up her quilt. Marlys selected my quilt as her choice. It was fun to see who won my quilt.


Jason picked up his mom's quilt. The quilt winner, Sue Gieschen, is a coach from Brule, Nebraska. Jason's sport is Track and Field. The drawing was at 6:00 PM and by 8:00 PM all the quilts were picked up. We were happy the winners were so close by and were able to pick up the quilts up so quickly.

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Below are some photos of Fan Fest. The event had a band from Orlando, Florida called LandSharks, a Jimmy Buffett Tribute Band. They were a lot of fun and got athletes and coaches up to dance.




During the week, professional sand artists made a special sculpture for the event.

Drawing Will Be Live

This is a photo of one of the Special Olympics quilts. This quilt was pieced by a Lincoln Quilters Guild member and is being given to the Special Olympics office in Omaha. The other quilt, which is hanging in the background, will be in the permanent collect at the International Quilt Study Center. The other 3 quilts (mine being one of them) will be given away in a live drawing on a local television channel (KOLN/KGIN Channel 10/11). We just found out today it will be live during the evening news, tomorrow (July 22nd, 6:00 pm). It's been really exciting. The last ticket was sold today, so we'll be able to give the Special Olympics our goal of $ 5,000.

Grady Wee Care Gown

I finished a gown and bonnet to be donated to a hospital for a WeeCare program for SAGA. This is my first completed outfit I made with smocking. I took a class over a year ago to learn to smock, and I finally finished a complete outfit.

Here is a little information about the Wee Care Program:

WeeCare is a program of the Smocking Arts Guild of America. Smockers and embroideresses from around the world stitch gowns, bonnets, blankets, burial wraps to donate to hospital NICUs.

These items are used in many ways, depending on the desires of the Unit.

Some units use garments to dress the neonates. Dressing these tiny babies helps the parents see beyond the tubes, wires and machines. They see them as THEIR baby.

Some pieces are used as going home gifts to the families. Preemie graduation from the NICU, dressed in a handmade pretty.

Some units choose to use the donations for bereavement. Nurses bathe then dress the newborn to present to the parents. A gown, a bonnet or an embroidered blanket to wrap the tiniest ones.

Gone to the Beach

Our vacation is getting closer and I made a sign for my door at work. I found the photo on the website of the resort where we are staying. I used photo transfer fabric and batiks to make it. The back has strips of batiks sewn together. I hope I find some shells when we are in Florida and I can add to my sign when I get home.

Rain, Rain Go Away

Today, I was in the 4th of July City, Seward Nebraska. Seward always has a big celebration and they'll have it rain or shine. Today was a rainy day. Our guild was selling raffle tickets to raise money for Special Olympics. My friend, Carla and family stopped by the table to support Special Olympics. Their son was deployed and is in the hearts of his family so they carry around a wooden bear to remember Matt. (Note: Matt on the table helping buy raffle tickets.) So, Matt was celebrating the 4th in Seward too. :)


After we packed up our table, we walked around and enjoyed the celebration and a few rain drops.


Here is a close up of an antique quilt from Seward's Quilt Guild show. Love the design of this scrappy quilt. I'm also impressed with the small quilting stitches.




I met Lady Susan McLain of Yesterday's Lady. She has a shop in Beatrice and collects vintage clothing. Her clothing spans from Victorian Era to 1970. Her fashions were so fun and she even lets you touch them. The two children's sailor outfits were perfect for today!


When we were walking to our car to go home these decoy ducks said it all!

Ornament Swap in July

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Terri is having an Ornament Swap in July, and I signed up for it. You can sign up too until the 4th of July. It will be an international swap and you don't even have to be a blogger. Terri was my partner last December for an ornament swap, and she has been my friend since. It's not only fun to get a gift in the mail, but you also get to make friends.


Terri also has some great ideas on her blog for ornaments to swap. I have known for months she was having an ornament swap and I have thought of a lot of ideas.

Here is what Terri made me for the swap in December. I love it, and she made it with tiny toothpick size knitting needles.